Washing-machine



(No Mbdel.) 5 Sheets-Sheet s.

0; & J. W. MEARS.

WASHING MACHINE.

No. 380,445. Patented Apr. 3, 1888.

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$51 jzwm (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

0. & J. W. MEARS.

WASHING MACHINE.

No. 380,445. Patented Apr. 3', 1888.

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(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 WASHING MACHINE. 4444444444 5.

.of the suds box or receptacle.

' UNI ED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GAMDEN MEARS AND JOHN W. MEARS, OF BLOOMSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA. V

WASHlNG-MACHlNE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 380,445, dated April 3, 1888.

Application filed November 11. 1886. Serial No. 218,609. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, CAMDEN MEARS and JOHN W. MEARS, citizens of the United States, residing at Bloomsburg, in the county of Columbia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in WVashing-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to improvements in washing-machines; and it consists in the peculiar combination of devices and novel construction and arrangement of the various parts for service, substantially as hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The primary object of our invention is to provide an improved washing machine which can be operated with great ease, and which shall thoroughly and effectively cleanse the fabrics placed therein of all dirt within a very short space of time.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate an improved washing-machine ernbodying our invention, Figure l is a perspective view. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view on the line .2 z of Fig. 5, showing the folding tub-support folded against one end Fig. 3 is avertical transverse sectional view on the line m x of Fig. 5. Fig. 4 is an end elevation showing the tub-support folded against one end of the suds-box. Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view on the line y y of Fig. 2. Figs. 6 and 7 are detached detail views of parts of our improvements. Fig. 8 is a side elevation showing the cover turned to a vertical position and the rubber thrown back out of the way to permit the fabrics to be removed and passed through a wringer. Fig.9 is a top plan view of a modification showing the device as adapted to be operated by two persons from both ends.

Referring to the drawings, in which like letters of reference denote corresponding parts in all the figures, a designates the suds box or receptacle of our improved washing-machine, which comprises the vertical side walls, a, the vertical end walls a, which are arranged at right angles to the side walls, a horizontal bottom, a and a hinged cover or lid, a The side walls, a, of the said receptacle are provided on their inner opposing surfaces near of one of the end walls thereof by means of straphinges a, the joint of which is arranged within the line of juncture of the inner edge of the said vertical wall and the lid, so that when the latter is turned to an upright or vertical positionas, for instance, when the wringer presently described is in use or it is desired to remove the contents of the receptaclethe water that may adhere will escape down on the cleat or the under side 7 thereof, and. thence into the suds-box, as will be very readily understood.

The suds-box is made substantially rectangular in form, and it is supported at a suitable height above the ground by means of ver' tical standards or legs A, which are arranged near the corners of the suds-box and rigidly affixed thereto by the same through-bolts or tension-rods or which connect the several walls of the suds-box together. v r The suds-box is provided with a horizontal flange or ledge, 12, on its inner side and at the upper portion thereof, on which rests the hinged cover or lid of the receptacle when in a closed position, and a series of vertical ribs, B, are also arranged within the suds-box and rigidly affixed at their upper and lower ends in the said horizontal ledge and the bottom of the box, respectively, as shown. These vertical ribs Bare arranged in a circle in the sudsbox, as clearly shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings, so that the fabrics or clothing in the box are prevented from accumulating in the angular corners of the rectangular box, and the said ribs are made substantially hexagonal or other angular form in cross-section. A series of horizontal radial ribs are rigidly affixed to the bottom of the suds-box, as at B, and the upper faces of these horizontal ribs are made angular in cross section. These vertical and ICO horizontal ribs serve to exert a rubbing action on the fabrics; in the receptacle, which are caused to partake of a whirling motion by the action thereon of an oscillating agitator or rubber operating therein, the said fabrics impinging violently against the angular faces of the fixed ribs.

designates the oscillating agitatoror rubber which is located in the suds-box, and it is arranged in a horizontal position and normally rests upon or is elevated slightly above the horizontal ribs B of the bottom. This agitator or rubber is shown in detail in Fig.

'6 of the drawings, and it comprises a horizontal disk, 0, and a series of depending fixed ribs, 0 0 which are arranged radially of the disk and on the lower or under side thereof. There are preferably eight of these radial ribs provided, although the number thereof can be varied without departing from the spirit 1 to more readily catch the same during the 0s.-

cillating motions of the rubber and thus serve to more effectively.- and thorough] yagitate. the fabrics in the water. 'Thisagitator. or. rubber is carried-and actuated by. a vertical standard,-

Of, which. is substantially squareincross-section and provided at its lower end with integral lugs or feet 0 through. which are passed bolts that serve to rigidly afiix the horizontal disk of the agitator to the standard 0 thereof.

D Edesignate thejournal-platesinwhich the driving mechanism for the oscillating agitator or rubber is supported, the peculiar construction of which I will now proceed to describe. The plates are arranged'in a horizontal. position one above the other, and the plate D is arranged beneath the plate. E. I: will there-' fore termthe plate D as the lower and the other plate as the upper. plate. The lower plate, D, is provided on its upper side with vertical: flanges or ribs d, which are cast or formedintegral therewith, audthe upper plate. is provided-with recesses. or grooves e on. its under side, into which the upper edges of the integralfianges or r-ibsare fitted to prevent displacement, of the horizontal journal-plateswith. relation to each. other,the said plates having vertical. aligned openings f, through which. are passed bolts f, which also pass throughthe lid or cover, and thus secure the said plates to each other and to the cover of the suds-box. These journal-plates arearrangedrat or near the center of thehinged cover, .and they have transverse openings D, around which are formed concentric integral and bosses are arranged in line with each other and with a central opening in the hinged cover of the receptacle, and through the opening in the cover and a central opening in the hub of the master-gear passes the upper extremity of the square standard or shaft 0 of the oscillating rubber, as will be more fully described hereinafter.

The lower plate, D, is provided near one of its side edges with a. longitudinal groove in its upper side, as at d, and the upper plate is provided with a groove, 6, in its lower side, which is. arranged in line with the corresponding groove in the upper plate. These grooves arepreferably formed by right-angled parallel flanges thatare formed integral with the plates; but they may be made by cutting into. the plates, as is obvious.

G designates the master gear-wheel, which is provided with an integral hub, g, which projects laterally from theside faces of the wheel. bosses of the bearing-plates, so as to be free to rotate therein, and it hasa central square open.- ing, therein, through which passes the upper end of the square standard 0 of the agitator or rubber, this upper end of the standard having a transverse opening, g through which passes a key or pin, G, that serves to.

connect the agitator-standard with the master gear-wheel, so that the shaft or standard is rotated or oscillated with the wheel, as is obvious. The master-gear is actuated by a reciprocating rack, H, which works in the aligned. guide-grooves formed in the journal or bearing plates. This rack is provided with a back plate, on which the teeth are formed, and the edges of the back plate are extended beyond the terminal ends of the teeth, so that theplate can move freely in the aligned grooves in the bearing-plates and thus cause the rack to runor reciprocate in a true'liue. The teeth on the reciprocating rack are formed in theinner side of the back plate thereof, so that the rack will actuate the master-gear properly, and the rack is further provided with a pin, h, which is for-medintegral therewith and located on the outer side of the rack, the said pin being arranged at right angles to the back plate and extending beyondthe edges of the thereto, so that the movements of the lever will be communicated to the rack to likewise actuate the same. J designates a casting, which is provided This hub is jourualed in the aligned IIC with short arms j, which project from opposite sides of the body ofthe same, and the outer ends of these short arms are formed into trunnions j, which are journaled in aligned openings or bearingsk, which are formed in the outer ends of suitable brackets, K, which are rigidly affixed to one of the end walls of the suds-box. These brackets are each formed in a single piece of metal, and they each comprise the diverging arms k',which are provided at their inner ends with right-angled perforated lugs, through which are passed screws that serve to secure the brackets to the sudsbox. The bracketsare arranged. in a vertical position a short distance from and parallel with each other, and the bearings or openings k are formed in their outer ends and at the point where the diverging arms join each other. The casting J is rigidly affixed or secured to the hand-lever I at an intermediate point of the length thereof, and the trunnions of the said casting are fitted and journaled in the aligned openings or bearings in the brackets K, thereby pivotally supporting the handlever upon one of the end walls of the sudsbox. The lower end of the lever is adapted to impinge against the lower edge of the sudsbox, and it has a buffer, 1, of any suitable resilient materialas, for instance, rubber or leather-rigidly affixed thereto, so that the impact or force of the lever upon the sudshox when it strikes the same will be very materially deadened or decreased.

Oneend of the pitman z is bent or formed into an eye, through which the pin on the reciprocating rack is passed, the pitman being held on the pin by a key, as shown, while the opposite end of the pitnlan is bent at right angles to the longitudinal axis thereof, and threaded, the said threaded end being passed through a suitable opening in the lever, and connected thereto by a suitable nut, which screws upon the threaded portion of the same.

L designates a fixed stop, which is secured upon the upper side of the hingedlid or cover.

of the suds-box and at the free edge thereof, and this stop is arranged in the path of the pin of the reciprocating slide and the inner end of the pitman, so that when the lid or cover is raised to an elevated position the pin will impinge against the stop, and therebyprevent the cover from further rearward movement, which is very desirable in wringing the fabrics, as the cover is then supported in place without requiring any attention on the part-of the operator.

An elastic cushion, m, is fitted around the upper end ofthe standard or shaft 0 of the oscillating rubber,and this cushion is interposed between the key of the shaft and the upper bearing plate, as shown. This cushion may be made of a piece of rubber, leather, or other suitable material of a like nature, or a coiled spring can be used, if desired The end of the suds-box opposite to the end where the hand-lever is connected thereto is provided with an inclined discharge-board, M,

which is arranged at the upper edge of the end wall of the suds-box, and to the outer edge of the inclined discharge-board is secured or affixed a vertical flange or wall, M, upon which a wringing-machine of any approved or desired pattern is adapted to be secured, as-will be very readily understood. Short side walls, Mflare rigidly affixed to the ends oftheiuclined and vertical walls M M, and serve to prevent the water that falls upon the discharge board from the wriuger, when the latter is in use, from escaping at the sides of the sudsbox.

The inclined dischargeboard is extended beyond the end wall to which it is affixed, as shown, and the side walls of the sudsbox are also extended, to form a recess between the side and end walls, in which the folding tub support or wash-bench N is adapted to be folded very compactly and snugly. This tubsupport consists of two sections which are hinged together at their contiguous ends, as at n, and the folding legs N, which are pivoted to the outer ends of the outer section of the said tub-support. The sections of the tub-support are each made of two parallel side bars and two or more connecting-bars, which are firmly united or connected together for strength and durability, and the folding legs at the outer end of the support are connected by a transverse bar,so that the legs mutually brace one another and move simultaneously. The

inner section of the tub-support is hinged to the lower edge of one of the end walls of the suds box, and the outer section of the said support has the upper ends of the folding legs pivoted thereto. The hinged sections of the tub-support are adapted to fold against one another and the end of the sudsbox, to which the inner section is connected, and the folding legs are adapted to fold against the outer section of the tub support, thereby compactly and snugly folding the entire parts of the said tub-support together. The said tub-support is housed partly within the recess at one end of the suds-box, and it is held in its folded position by means of a suitable looking device, a, which preferably consists of a hook which is pivoted to the receptacle, and an eye which is secured to the pivoted folding legs of the support.

The operation of our invention will be very readily understood from the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

The fabrics and a suitable supply of water are first placed in the suds-box and the upper end of the hand-lever grasped to operate the machine. The movements of the swinging hand-lever are transmitted through the intermediate pitman to the reciprocating rack, which in turn actuates the master-gear, and thus oscillates the standard or shaft 0 and the agitator or rubber. The rubber serves to agitate the water and fabrics in the suds-box, and theenlargements on the ribs thereof catch the fabrics and agitate the same to effect the IIO cleansing. thereof within a' very shorttime. The continued oscillation of the rubber causes a violent agitation in the water and fabrics of the suds-box, and the fabrics are caused to impinge upon the ribs therein, the combined action of the surging agitating water in the receptacle and the ribs thereof serving to rapidly and effectively cleanse the fabrics from dirt and impurities. W'hen it is desired to use the wringer, the folding tub-support isextended and the legs thereof dropped down to rest upon the floor, and thus support the tubsupport in a horizontal position. The wring ing-machine is applied to the vertical wall M; or it can be permitted to remain thereon-permanently, as the operation of the machine will not be interfered with by the same, and the hinged lid or cover is thrown back to an upright position until the fixed pin'on the rack and the front end of the pitman impinges upon the fixed stop on the lid, thereby preventing a the further retrograde movement of the lid,

the movement of the hand-lever being limited by the buffer at its lower end coming in contact withthe lower edge of the suds-box. The

' for the fabrics, in order to pass them through the wring'er, this movement of the agitator being readily performed, as it is not connected with the driving mechanism and passes freely through the square opening in the master-gear.

The water can be readily discharged from the suds-box after the washing and wringing operations have been completed through an outlet-opening, 0, formed in the lower corner of one of the side walls of the suds-box, and the water is directed into a suitable receptacle by a short nozzle, 0, which is rigidly afiixed to the sudsbox and either partially or wholly surrounds the outlet-openingtherein,as clearly shown in Fig. 1.

The machine is provided with suitable haudles,p, 'so that it can be readilymoved or carried, and the cover is likewise provided with a similar handle at its free edge, so that it can be raised.

We do not desire to limit ourselves to the exact details of construction and form and proportion of parts herein shown and described as an embodiment of our invention, as we are aware that changes therein can be made without departing from the principle orsacrificing the advantages thereof.

In large machines it is necessary to provide two hand-levers,which are located at opposite ends of the machine, and connected by intermediate links with two reciprocating rackbars, which are arranged on opposite sides of the master-gear to alternately rotate the same. The levers are operated alternately by two persons, and the racks are guided in suitable grooves formed in the bearing-plates, as will be very readily understood. In lieu, however,

of a lever, we may employ a crank for reciprocating the rack-bar, and an unusual power of any preferred form may also be connected with the rack or racks to operate the same.

Having thus fully described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In awashing-machine, the tuband cover provided with-a plate on the cover and a second plate secured to the said first plate, the two beingseparated by suitable projections, which also support the second plate at both ends, a cog-wheel having an angular hole through it, loosely journaled' between theplates', in combination with a vertically-reciprocating angular shaft, which slidesfreely through thehole in the cog-wheel and a rubber mounted thereon, and a gearing for rotating saidwheel,shaft, and rubber alternately in opposite directions,- substantially as and for the purposes specified.-

2. In a washing-machine, the combination of a suds-box having a-swinging lid, thejournail-plates affixed to' the lid .and having. the aligned openings, a master-gear journaled in the plates and provided with a square opening which aligns with the openings in the plates, an agitator or rubber fixedto the lower end of a square shaft, which passes through the openings in the plates and master-gear and is free to move longitudinally therein, a rack guided by the platesfor operating the mastergear and agitator, and a lever connected by a rod with the rack, whereby when the cover is elevated the agitator can be moved or adjusted in close proximity to the same to' permit the ready removal of the fabrics, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a washing-machine, the combination of a suds-box having a hingedlid, the bearing-plates connected to the lid, a master-gear journaled in the said plates, the agitator connected by an intermediate shaft with the mastergear, a reciprocating rack for actuating the master-gear and having a fixed pin, a swinging hand-lever, a pitman intermediate of the lever and pin of the rack, and a fixed stop arranged in the path of the pin on the rack and adapted to come in contact therewith when the cover is elevated, substantially as described, for the purpose set forth.

4. In a washing-machine, the combination of a suds-box having a hinged lid or cover,

the fixed bearing-plates D E, arranged parallel with each other and one having the flanges or ribs fitting in corresponding grooves in the other plate, the hollow aligned bosses therein, the guide-grooves: and the throughbolts, the master-gear journaledin the hollow master-gear journaled in the said plates and having the centralsq'uare opening, the agitator or rubber having the square shaft passing through the opening in the master-gear and free to move longitudinally therein, the reciprocating rack, a hand-lever connected to 5 the suds-box at an intermediate point of its length and adapted to impinge against the same at its lower-extremity, the pitman intermediate of the lever and the rack, and a fixed stop on the lid or cover and arranged in the 10 path of the inner end of the link, and the pin on the rack to which the link is connected,

substantially as described, for the purpose set forth.

In testimony thatewe claim the foregoing as our own we have hereto affixed our signatures 5 in presence of two witnesses.

CAMDEN ME ARS. JOHN W. MEARS.

WVitnesses:

G. M. QUIoK, P. H. FREEZE. 

